Dolton Woman Accused Of Violating Scott's Law, Injuring ISP Trooper

CHICAGO, IL — A Dolton woman is accused of violating Scott's Law after an Illinois State Police vehicle was hit, injuring one trooper.

According to ISP, the trooper was helping a driver whose car had stopped on the right shoulder of Interstate 94 and 138th Street at around 6:53 p.m. Sunday. Officials said the vehicle was a "fully marked squad car" with emergency lights on.

A gold Chevrolet traveling southbound on the Steel Bridge did not slow down for the emergency vehicle and veered off the roadway and onto the right shoulder, rear-ending the squad car and injuring the trooper.

Scott's Law requires all drivers to yield to a stationary emergency vehicle by reducing their speed and moving over. The law was named in remembrance of Lieutenant Scott Gillen of the Chicago Fire Department who was hit and killed by a drunk driver while parked at a crash site on the Dan Ryan Expressway.

The driver of the Chevrolet, 73-year-old Lillie Nelson, was charged with violating the law in addition to improper passing of an emergency vehicle causing injury to another, operation of an uninsured vehicle causing bodily harm to another and passing a vehicle while on the shoulder of the road.

The trooper was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released, a spokesperson for ISP told Patch.

Nelson could face a fine of up to $10,000 for violating Scott's Law. Since the trooper was injured in the process, Nelson could also have her license suspended for up to two years, according to state law.

Illinois State Police said 10 ISP squad cars have been hit during a Scott's Law incident this year alone. Of those 10 crashes, five troopers have been injured. Last year, 22 Scott's Law related crashes were recorded.

State police reminded drivers the law requires motorists to slow down in addition to moving over.